Someswarar Temple Kumbakonam | Kumbakonam Lord Shiva Temple | Mahamaham Sthalam | Famous Shiva Temple In Kumbakonam

Someswarar Temple

Someswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the core of the Kumbakonam town, on the banks of Lotus Tank, by the side of the Kumbeswarar Temple. This is one of the 12 Shiva shrines of Kumbakonam related to the Mahamaham celebration. The old name of this temple is Kudanthai Karonam. It is on the Southern side of the Sarangapani Temple. This is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, as the Lord here was adulated by Thirugnana Sambandar. The main deity is a Swayambumurthy also named as Someswarar, Somanathar, Sikkesar, and so on Ambal is Shri Somasundari or Thenarmozhiyal. 

Sthala Puranam

Long back, the holocaust ( Pralaya ) occurred and everything on the earth was annihilated. Brahma, the God of creation, was stressed and He looked for the guidance of Shiva. God encouraged Him to gather sand from every single holy place and make a pot utilizing the nectar and top it off with nectar and to keep the Creation Seed ( Shrusti Beeja) in the pot and cover it with coconut and mango leaves and enriched with the heavenly string. Also asked to keep the pot securely in a sling/net ( Uri in Tamil) with the goal that it doesn't get shifted. Brahma did as told and the Kumbam began skimming in the flood and when it approached this spot, Shiva showed up and broke the pot. The nectar began streaming out and a tank was made. This came to be called Chandra Pushkarni. Later the actual sling turned into a lingam and consequently came to be called Sikkesar ( Sikkam implies sling or Uri ). Another explanation given for this name is that as Lord Shiva comes hurrying to eliminate the sikkals/problems ( the Tamil word for issues/challenges) of his devotees, so he is called Sikkesar.

Significance

Since Chandra had adored here to get relieved from some sin, the Lord came to be called Someswarar. ( Soma is Chandra ). Aside from Chandra, Jupiter likewise worshipped here. ( Due to this, this Lord came to be called Vyazha Someswara as Vyazha alludes to Guru or Jupiter.

Since Vishnu also adored here, the Lord is likewise called Mallesar ( Thirumal is the other name of Vishnu). This lingam is in the Prakaram. There are three entrances to this temple. The most favored passageway is the one where Kalyana Vinayakar is having the holy place. Another significant sanctum in the prakaram is that of Shri Valli Deva Sena Sametha Shri Subramanyar. This Murugan wears footwear in one of His legs!

Famous Shiva Temples That You Should Visit:

Sri Vanchinathar Temple
Adi Annamalai Temple
Sri Marundeeswarar Temple
Dakshinamoorthy Temple Pattamangalam
Thirumakaraleeswarar Temple 
Thirumayam Sathyamurthy Temple
Sri Lakshmipureeswarar Temple
Karaneeswarar Temple Saidapet
Sri Theerthapureeswarar Temple
Sri Manokkiyanatha Swamy Temple

Temple Timings

The temple is open From 06.30 AM to 12.30 PM and from 04.00PM to 08.30 PM.

Address

Sri Someswaraswamy Temple,

Kumbakonam Post & Taluk,

Tanjore District,

Tamil Nadu – 612 001.

Tele: +91 435 243 0349.